Enabor revealed this when the 49 political parties
participating in the forthcoming general elections in the state signed a
peace pact at the commission’s headquarters in Asaba.
A total of 465,317 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) have yet to not
collected in Delta, the Acting Administrative Secretary of INEC in the
state, Mr F.A. Enabor, said on Thursday.
Enabor revealed this when the 49 political
parties participating in the forthcoming general elections in the state
signed a peace pact at the commission’s headquarters in Asaba.
He said that the uncollected PVCs would be
taken to the different electoral wards to on Jan. 16 to enable the
owners to collect them, adding that the collection period would last for
10 days.
The administrative secretary urged
the parties to help inform their members and supporters about the
measure taken by the commission to enable those concerned have their
PVCs.
Enabor who said 2,823,161 voters were
registered in the state assured the electorate that INEC would conduct
free fair and credible election in the state.
“We as a commission hereby assure all
contestants of our neutrality and we promise that you all will enjoy a
level playing field before, during and after the election.
“Our goal is to deliver free, fair,
credible and conclusive elections. However, the enabling environment
must be given to the commission to do its work properly and serve you
well,” he said.
The new Delta Commissioner of Police, Mr Anthony Ogbizi, warned the political parties, their candidates and supporters against violence and election malpractices during the polls.
Ogbizi said that any violator of the Electoral Act, no matter how highly placed, would be arrested and prosecuted.
He, however, assured the electorate that the
command would ensure peace and order all over the state including the
riverine areas, before, during and after the election.
The police commissioner said that adequate measures had been put in place to achieve this.
He reminded the politician that election was
not a do-or-die affair and urged them to play by the rules to avoid
prosecution as only one winner would emerge in every election.
“Once you play by the rule, you make our
job easy and the election will be free and fair. But once problems occur
which in most cases are caused by politicians, the exercise will not go
on well.
“I crave your indulgence not to engage
thugs or threaten violence. Police will advise INEC on what to do should
there be any disruption,” he said.
Ogbizi solicited the cooperation of Delta
residents especially the politicians to enable the law enforcement
agencies carry out their duties effectively during the exercise.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that
all the security agencies and other relevant organisations in the state,
including the Army, Navy, State Security Service, NCSC, FRSC, were in
attendance.
The Deputy Governor of Delta, Kingsley Otuaro, represented Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of the PDP at the occasion.
Also in attendance were the governorship
candidates, Chairmen and representatives of other political parties
including the PDP, APC, Labour Party and Accord Party that signed the
pact.